Punjab to order Vigilance probe into judge ‘bribery’

“Singla has been suspended and will have to face inquiry. An FIR will also be registered by Vigilance,” Punjab home secretary D S Bains said.

Bains added that the possibility of Vigilance moving against the judge will have to be discussed.

The judge,Hemant Gopal,was suspended by the Punjab and Haryana High Court following allegations of corruption levelled by former Punjab MLA Mangat Rai Bansal. Bansal was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for his involvement in a paddy scam by Hemant Gopal.

While Bansal and others were convicted in the case,another accused Parminder Gill,who had given the bribe for the judge to Singla,was acquitted. Bansal had directed the sting operation on April 17 and the conviction orders were passed by Gopal on April 20. Bansal moved a complaint against the judge in the Punjab and Haryana High Court after his conviction and Gill’s acquittal. The complaint included a CD that showed Singla taking Rs 40 lakh as bribe for the judge. He counted the money and put it in a bag. Later the bag was allegedly delivered to the judge at Patiala.